Adjustable pencil sharpener



March 19, 1957 w. WOLFSON' ADJUSTABLE PENCIL SHARPENER Fild May 22, 1953 4 Sheets-Sneet l INVENTOR. WALTER WOLFSON 515 z a 2 March 19, 1957 w. WOLFSON 2,785,657

ADJUSTABLE PENCIL SHARPENER Filed May 22, 1953 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. WALTER WOLF-SON March 19, 1957 w. WOLFSON ADJUSTABLE PENCIL SHARPENER 4 Sheets-Sneet 3 Filed May 22. 1953 V0 d" m W R aim E 1;... m W

W. WOLFSON March 19, 1957 Filed May 22, 1,953

INVENTOR. WALTER WOLF'SON A QKNEY United States This invention relates to pencil sharpeners and achieves the objective of providing a pencil sharpener which W111 sharpen a pencil in a new and novel manner, is adjustable so that any desired length of exposed lead or graphite can be provided, and also provides means for cleaning the pencil point from clinging particles of shaved graphite or lead.

The present state of the art discloses numerous types of sharpeners in use, none of which produce the results obtained by my improved invention. There are some mechanical Sharpeners which require the use of both hands for operation. It is true that an electrical pencil sharpener in present use eliminates the necessity for using both hands in the operation of sharpening a pencil but, along with the mechanical sharpeners it has a failing in that all of the Sharpeners now known or used can sharpen a pencil only to a specific length of exposed lead. it is also manifest that none of the present sharpeners provide means for cleaning the particles of cut lead from the pencil point.

One of the principal objects of this invention, therefore, is to provide a pencil sharpener which can be adjusted to sharpen a pencil so as to expose any length of lead desired.

Another important object of the present invention is to provide a pencil sharpener which can sharpen a pencil by a rotary movement of the pencil.

A third object of this invention is to provide a pencil sharpener which requires the use of only one hand for its operation.

A further object of this invention is to provide a pencil sharpener which is very simple to operate and to adjust.

An additional object of this invention is to provide, as a part of the pencil sharpener, integral means to clean lead shavings from the sharpened point of the pencil.

Other important objects, advantages and functional features of my invention, together with the novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts, will appear from an examination of the following description, taken with the accompanying drawings which show preferred embodiments of my invention, where:

Fig. l is a central, cross sectional side view of an adjustable pencil sharpener embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a bottom view of my invention;

Fig. 3 is an exploded view of my invention showing the component parts thereof;

Fig. 4 is a central, cross-sectional side view of a modified embodiment of my invention;

Fig. 5 is a top view of the modified embodiment; and

Fig. 6 is an exploded view showing the component parts of said embodiment.

Similar reference characters designate similar parts throughout the different views.

illustrative of the embodiment shown and disclosed by Figs. 1, 2 and 3, my adjustable pencil sharpener consists essentially of a casing 16 comprising a circular wall 11, a base plate 12 and a rotating cap 13, with the sharpening mechanism within the casing 10. The circular wall 11 is substantially bell-shaped and provided at its base with a step-extension 14. The base plate 12 is removably seatent C "ice cured to the circular wall 11 within the step-extension 14 by means of a snap ring 15, adapted to fit into a recessed circular groove 16. The base plate 12 and the rotating cap 13 are secured to each other at opposite ends of the circular wall 11 by means of a connecting shaft 17, threaded at each end as shown, the base plate 12 being secured by means of a threaded nut 18 and the rotating cap 13 by means of a threaded knurl nut 19. The shaft 17 is provided with an integral platform 2!) located approximately one-third of the distance from the top of the shaft 17. A cutter hub 21 is disposed around the shaft 17 in engagement with the base of the platform 20 and is secured rigidly in position by means of a cup bushing 22 secured to the lower portion of the shaft 17. The cutter hub 21 is provided with a circular ledge 23 and is adapted to receive a cutter 24 in snug fit position, with its base against the ledge 23. The cutter 24 is provided with its outer surface in the shape of a section of a cone having its larger diameter at its base and with its angle of incline preferably approximately 7 /2 degrees from the perpendicular. It is to be noted that this angle of expansion may be greater or less than the preferred degree of incline, depending upon the diameter of the pencil to be used in the sharpener and also upon the type of sharpening desired, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. The entire outer surface of the cutter 24 is provided with a plurality of spaced parallel cutting teeth 25. The teeth 25 are disposed preferably at a slanting angle of approximately 45 degrees from the perpendicular.

The circular wall 11 of the casing 10 is provided with a projecting ledge 26 circumferentially around its inner surface, substantially identical with the ledge 23 of the cutter hub 21, disposed adjacent to and level with the ledge 23, and adapted to receive and support a guide ring 27. The guide ring 27 is provided with its inner surface in the shape of a section of an inverted cone having its larger diameter at its top and with its angle of decline approximately 7 /2 degrees from the perpendicular, identical with the angle of incline of cutter 24. The inner surface of the ring 27 is provided smooth and polished. The ring 27 and cutter 24 are disposed, in position, to come in registry with each other to define between them a space 28 in the form of an inverted cone adapted to receive a wooden pencil, with an area of separation between the bases of the cutter 24 and ring 27 equal to the diameter of the pencil lead, adapted to permit the descent of the denuded lead without injury thereto.

The rotating cap 13 is substantially dome shaped and provided with an enlarged flange 29 around its periphery adapted to overlap the circular wall 11 below the level of the rings 24 and 27. The cap 13 is further provided with a circular enlarged opening 34 through which the threaded top of the shaft 17 extends, to which the knurl nut 19 is attached. Integral with the under surface of the cap 13 is provided a central hollow cylinder 31 Within which a bearing 32 is secured, the bearing adapted to allow rotation of the cap 13 around the shaft 17, the base of the bearing 32 resting upon the shaft platform 20, as shown.

The cap 13 is further provided with a cylindrical pencil guide 33, disposed adjacent its outer edge, defining an opening 34 in registry with the opening 28 between the cutter 24 and ring 27, adapted to permit the insertion of a pencil through the pencil guide 33 and into the opening 28, the diameter of the opening 34 being slightly larger than the wood diameter of the pencil so as to prevent wobble of the pencil during the sharpening operation.

The cup bushing 22 is provided with a threaded outer circumference. An abrasive cup 35 is provided, with an inclined wall 36 adapted to receive an abrasive material 37 as a lining thereon, the inclined wall 36 being disposed below the opening 28 and adapted to engage the exposed lead or graphite of the inserted pencil and to point the lead or graphite by frictional rotation. The abrasive cup 35 is mounted upon the cup bushing 22 by means of a central threaded bore 38, and is adapted to be raised and lowered on the bushing 22 by rotation thereon in opposite. directions. The abrasive'cup 35 is further provided with a plurality of openings in its base 40 to permit pencil shavings to drop to the floor of the casing 10, and also for the purpose of arrestin rotation of the cup 35 after the desired height is attained, as will hereinafter be shown.

As will be noted, the cup bushing 22 is provided with reduced ends forming a shoulder 41 to secure the cutter hub 21 in position and a shoulder 42 to fit the bushing 22 securely to the'base plate 12.

The base plate 12 is provided with a central opening 43 and an adjacent threaded bore 44 through which a. stop screw 45 is threaded, the end of the stop screw penetrating within the abrasive cup 35 through one of the openings 39, adapted to arrestrotation of the abrasive cup 35.

A rubber base protector 46 is provided around the grooved base 47 of the circular wall 11 for'additiona stability. 7

The rotating cap is further provided with an opening 48 adapted for the insertion of the point of a sharpened pencil to remove particles of shaved lead or graphite. Immediately below the opening 48 a piece of felt material 49 is secured to the undersurface of the cap 13, with a split 50 directly central of the opening 48.

In operation of the pencil sharpener, the abrasive cup 35 is first raised or lowered to the desired level, depend. ing upon the length of point desired for the pencil. The base plate 12 is then secured to the wall 11 of the casing 10 and the stop screw 45 threaded into one of the openings 39 of the abrasive cup 35. V a

The pencil 51 is then inserted into the pencil guide 33 as far as it will go, and, being held firmly by the hand with a downward pressure, is rotated in a clock-wise fashion one or more turns. The cutting teeth 25 cut upward against the wood surface of the'pencil, cutting the wood in shavings, forming a conical shape to the pencil and exposing the lead or graphite. The exposed lead descends toward the abrasive cup 35 until it reaches the inclined wall 36 which points the end. by frictional rotation. The pencil is then removed and the point is inserted into opening 48 in the cap 33 where the particles of shaven lead or graphite are removed by contact with the split edges of the felt 49.

his to be notedthat the cutting teeth 25 have their edges facing the direction of movement of the pencil, angled from left to right for clock-wise movement of the pencil. It is therefore obvious that the same result is obtainable for a left-handed person who rotates a pencil counter-clockwise. In such a case'the angle of the cutting teeth 25 is provided from right to left instead, with the cutting edges facing the direction of movement of the pencil. It is further to be noted that as the pencil is rotated against the cutting teeth it is held in one position so that the cutting teeth contact the entire surface of the pencil wood in each revolution.

A modified embodiment of my invention is disclosed by Figs. 4, and 6 of the drawings wherein the casing comprises a circular wall 11, a base plate 12 and a rotating cap 13', with the sharpening mechanism housed within the casing 10. A central shaft 53 is secured to thebase plate 12' by means of a threaded opening 54 and the base plate 12' is secured to the base of the circular wall 11' of the casing ltl by means of a threaded groove 55.

'dersurface with a series of webs-59 and a pair of depending rods so.

integral circular ring 61 beveled at an angle and provided with a plurality of spaced parallel teeth 62 around its outer surface, the teeth 62 being disposed angular to the perpendicular. The circular wall 11 is likewise provided with an integral circular ring 63 secured to a ledge 64 extending around the inner surface of the wall 11 at the same level as the cutter platform 56, the inner surface of the ring being beveled at the same mi e as the ring 61, but inversely to it so as to define between therings 61 and 63 a spaced opening 65 in the shape of an inverted cone. The inner surface of the ring 63 is provided with cutting teeth 66 identical with the teeth 62 and disposed adjacent thereto, and adapted to cut shavings from a Wood pencil rotated between them, from oppositesides of the pencil.

The rotating cap 13 is substantially dome shaped and provided with a peripheral lip 67 adapted to fit over the circular Wall 11, as shown. The cap 13' is provided on its upper surface with a cylindrical pencil g ide 68 defining an opening 69 in registry with the opening 65 between the cutting rings 61 and 63, adapted to permit insertion of a pencil through the pencil guide 68 and into the opening 65. The cap 13' is provided, integral with its undersurface, with a central hollow cylinder 7%,

adapted to fit upon the shaft 53, and supporting webs 71. A ball bearing 72 is mounted upon raised ridges 73 of the shaft 53, and adapted to support the cylinder 7% so as to permit easy rotation of the cap 13. A knu-rl nut 74 is threaded to the top of the shaft 53, above the cap 13 to secure the cap 13' to the rest of the casing 10.

A cup 75, provided with abrasive material 76 around its inner wall, is'mountedon the shaft 53 below the cutter platform 56, and maintained parallel thereto by means of openings 77 through which the depending rods pass, as shown. A spiral spring .78 is mounted around the shaft 53 between the base of the cutter platform 56 and the cup 75, resistant to convergence of the platform 56 and the cup 75. The base of the cup is further provided with a threaded opening 79. The base plate 12' is provided with a smooth opening 86 directly below the opening 79. An adjustment screw 81 is inserted through the opening 3t) and engaged by the threaded opening 79. A lock washer 82 is provided at the base of the screw 81 on the inner surface of the base plate 12' to secure the screw 81 to the base plate 12'. The screw 81 provides means for raising or lowering the cup 75 with respect to the cutter platform 56, so as to provide a longer or shorter point for the sharpened pencil, as is obvious from the description of the operation of the first embodiment described. As with the first embodiment, the cap 13' is provided with an opening S3, below which is secured felt material 84 having a split 85, as shown.

As is apparent, the operation of this embodiment is the same asof the first embodiment shown and described, the essential differences between the two being the means for raising and lowering the abrasive cup on the shaft and the provision'in the second embodiment of two sets of cutting teeth instead of one;

It is thus apparent that my invention provides a novel, economical and practical pencil sharpener which is far superior to such sharpeners as are now known or in use.

The embodiments shown in the drawings. are obviously by way of illustration only, and various changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of parts without limitation upon or departure from the spirit and scope of the invention, or sacrificing any of the advantages thereof inherent therein, and the drawings are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. 7

I claim:

1. A pencil sharpener comprising a casing provided with a central shaft, a, cap mounted upon the shaft and rotatable thereon, a cylindrical pencil guide integral with the cap and adapted to allow insertion of a pencil into the casing, a central cylinder integral with the undersurface of the cap, a bearing provided within the cylinder, fixed circular cutting means within the casing disposed below and in registry with the pencil guide, a bushing secured to the lower portion of the central shaft, a cup rotatably mounted on the bushing and adjustable vertically thereon, means to lock the cup to the bushing, the cup provided -with an inclined wall adapted to engage the pencil lead and abrasive means provided upon the inclined wall of the cup.

2. -A pencil sharpener comprising a casing provided with a central shaft, a cap mounted upon the shaft and rotatable thereon, a cylindrical pencil guide integral with the cap and adapted to allow insertion of a pencil into the casing, a central cylinder integral with the undersurface of the cap, a bearing provided within the cylinder, a platform integral with the central shaft and adapted to support the cap bearing, a cutter hub mounted upon the shaft platform, a cutting ring mounted around the cutter hub, the cutting ring provided with a plurality of parallel teeth. an outer guide ring mounted around the inner circumference of the casing wall concentric and in registry with the cutting ring to define a converging pencil opening between them to engage the opposite sides of a pencil inserted through the pencil guide, the converging perimeters of the guide and cutting rings disposed apart the diameter of a pencil lead, and adjustable pencil pointing means disposed below the cutting ring to engage the lead of the sharpened pencil.

3. A pencil sharpener comprising a casing provided with a central shaft, a cap mounted upon the shaft and rotatable thereon, a cylindrical pencil guide integral with the cap and adapted to allow insertion of a pencil into the casing, a central cylinder integral with the undersurface of the cap, a bearing provided within the cylinder, 2. platform integral with the central shaft, and adapted to support the cap bearing, a cutter hub mounted upon the shaft platform, a cutting ring mounted around the cutter hub, the cutting ring provided with a plurality of parallel teeth, an outer guide ring mounted around the inner circumference of the casing wall concentric and in registry with the cutting ring to define a converging pencil opening between them to engage the opposite sides of a pencil inserted through the pencil guide, the converging perimeters of the guide and cutting rings dis posed apart the diameter of a pencil lead, a bushing secured to the lower portion of the central shaft, a cup mounted upon the bushing, the cup provided with an inclined wall adapted to engage the descending pencil lead and abrasive means provided upon the inclined wall of the cup to engage the end of the pencil lead.

4. A pencil sharpener comprising a casing provided with a central shaft, a cap mounted upon the shaft and rotatable thereon, a cylindrical pencil guide integral wtih the cap and adapted to allow insertion of a pencil into the casing, a central cylinder integral with the undersurface of the cap, a bearing provided within the cylinder, a platform integral with the central shaft and adapted to support the cap hearing, a cutter hub mounted upon the shaft platform, a cutting ring mounted around the cutter hub, the cutting ring provided with a plurality of parallel teeth, an outer guide ring mounted around the inner circumference of the casing wall concentric and in registry with the cutting ring to define a converging pencil opening between them to engage the opposite sides of a pencil inserted through the pencil guide, the converging perimeters of the guide and cutting rings disposed apart the diameter of a pencil lead, a threaded bushing secured to the central shaft below the shaft platform, a cup threaded to the bushing and adapted to be raised or lowered thereon by rotation, the cup provided with an inclined wall adapted to engage the descending pencil lead, and abrasive material provided upon the surface of the inclined wall to engage the end of the pencil lead, a series of openings in the floor of the cup, and a stop screw threaded through the base of the casing and adapted to penetrate into the cup through one of its floor openings to arrest rotation of the cup around the bushing.

5. A pencil sharpener comprising a casing provided with a circular wall, a base plate and a central shaft, a cap mounted upon the shaft and rotatable thereon, a cylindrical pencil guide integral with the cap and adapted to allow insertion of a pencil therethrough into the casing, a central cylinder integral with the undersurface of the cap, a bearing provided Within the cylinder, a platform integral with the central shaft and adapted to support the cap bearing, a cutter hub mounted upon the shaft platform, a cutting ring mounted around the cutter hub, the cutting ring provided with a plurality of parallel teeth, an outer guide ring mounted around the inner circumference of the casing wall concentric and in registry with the cutting ring to define a converging pencil opening between them to engage the opposite sides of a pencil inserted through the pencil guide, the converging perimeters of the guide and cutting rings disposed apart the diameter of a pencil lead, a threaded bushing secured to the central shaft below the shaft platform, a cup threaded to the bushing and adapted to be raised or lowered thereon by rotation, the cup provided with an inclined Wall adapted to engage the descending pencil lead, and abrasive material provided upon the inner surface of the inclined wall to engage the end of the pencil lead, a series of openings in the floor of the cup, a stop screw threaded through the base of the casing and adapted to penetrate into the cup through one of its fioor openings to arrest rotation of the cup around the bushing, and a snap ring adapted to secure the base plate of the casing to the circular wall thereof.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 479,303 Price July 19, 1892 1,202,325 Simmons Oct. 24, 1916 1,256,383 Simmons Feb. 12, 1918 2,519,854 Schar Aug. 22, 1950 2,540,320 Cayo Feb. 6, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS 531,636 France Oct. 27, 1921 270,866 Switzerland Sept. 30, 1950 

